Section 6. Quashnet Woods State Reservation

The Quashnet River runs through the heart of Quashnet Woods State Reservation. (See Appendix G for photo information.) SECTION 6. QUASHNET WOODS STATE RESERVATION

6.1. INTRODUCTION Recognizing that protection of water quality and fish habitat requires watershed protection, the Six main streams flow into Waquoit Bay; the largest Commonwealth purchased 336 acres of stream is the Quashnet River (Keay 2000, Louis Berger corridor and adjacent uplands. This property, Group, Inc. 2010). It originates at John’s Pond in Quashnet Woods State Reservation (i.e., Quashnet Mashpee and flows southward to the bay. As it Woods), is contiguous with and north of, the WMA. enters Falmouth its name changes to the Moonakis Quashnet Woods is jointly owned and managed by River. The Quashnet’s main source of water is the DFW and the DCR; the former responsible for springs from the Sagamore Lens of the Cape Cod the riverbanks and the latter responsible for the rest SSA. of the property. It has expanded in size since Protection of the Quashnet River Valley is an established, and is part of a larger conservation extension of decades of efforts to protect the river’s landscape in Falmouth and Mashpee. (Figure 6.1) fish. The Quashnet’s cold waters historically The creation of Quashnet Woods reflects an supported populations of sea-run brook trout (i.e., increased emphasis on protecting Waquoit Bay by salters), herring, and eels (Keay 2010). As early as protecting the rivers and streams that flow into the 1864, restrictions were placed on the taking of bay. Other recent watershed protection efforts salters from the Quashnet (Chapter 150 of the Acts include acquisitions along the Childs River in of 1864). In the 1950s, the Massachusetts Division Falmouth, and the acquisition of streamside of Fisheries and Game, later the Division of properties associated with WBNERR (Section 3) Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), stocked brook trout and South Cape Beach (Section 4). (Mullan 1958) and began acquiring property along the river to protect their habitat. This established the Quashnet River Wildlife Management Area (WMA); additional acreage was added in the late 1980s.

6-1 Childs River PropertyCarriage Jobs Fishing Shop Road

Road

Childs River

Parsons Lane Shellback Way

0 200 400 Feet

Quashnet Woods Drive

Industrial Drive

Quashnet River Dover Road

North Quashnet Woods

Road Grafton

Phinney Pocknet

Property Saddleback Drive Road

Cashs Trail Meadow Spring

Great Hay Road

Stanhope Road 28 Quashnet Cranberry Run Road River WMA House Garage Martin Road 0 500 1,000 Feet Building Marsh Quashnet Woods State Reservation Parking Area Salt Marsh Open Water Figure 6.1. Major Road Quashnet Woods State Reservation Minor Road 0 500 1,000 Other Protected Open Space Hydrologic Connection Feet Geographic information provided by MassGIS and DCR GIS. 6-2 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Quashnet Woods’ physical, political, and regulatory 6.2. NATURAL RESOURCES attributes are summarized below. (Table 6.1.1) Fisheries studies have been conducted in the Table 6.1.1. Physical, political, and regulatory settings Quashnet River since at least the late 1940s; this of Quashnet Woods and associated properties. information is available from MassWildlife. There are few other sources of information on Quashnet Setting Name or Metric Woods and the watershed lands’ natural resources. Location: Falmouth, Mashpee Area (acres)a: 468.09 Physical Features a Perimeter (miles) : 8.15 Quashnet Woods and the associated watershed b Landscape Designation(s) : Woodlands, Reserve properties are located on an outwash plain that Legislative Districts: slopes gently toward the south and east. House Third Barnstable Senate Plymouth and Barnstable Elevations along the Quashnet River range from Cape and Islands approximately 10 feet near Route 28 to Regulatory Designations: Priority Habitat approximately 20 feet at the northern end of Quashnet Woods. Elevations reach approximately 50 Waquoit Bay ACEC feet to both the east and west of the river valley; Outstanding Resource there are numerous depressions in the uplands. The Waters - Waquoit Bay ACEC Phinney property is approximately 50 feet above sea level and nearly level. The North Quashnet property Waquoit Historic District has the highest elevations, ranging from 50-90 feet; a. Calculated using a Geographic Information System (GIS). b. For a summary of the DCR’s landscape designations, see it slopes westward toward the Quashnet River. http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dcr/ld/ld-factsheet-final.pdf. Elevations at the Childs River parcel range from approximately 10 to 30 feet, with the topography Associated Properties. Three additional properties sloping from both the east and west toward the river are included in this section: the Phinney property, bottom. North Quashnet Woods, and the Childs River property. None are contiguous with Quashnet Water Resources Woods. These properties, along with Quashnet Quashnet Woods and the watershed lands have the Woods State Reservation, were acquired to protect greatest length of rivers and streams of any property the quality and quantity of water flowing into in the Complex. A summary of these resources is Waquoit Bay. All are located north of Route 28. provided in Table 6.2.1. Throughout this section they are collectively referred to as the watershed properties. (See Figure 1.1 for Table 6.2.1. Water resources of Quashnet Woods and locations of these properties.) associated properties. Water Resource Name or Metric • Phinney Property. Located in Falmouth, west Watershed: Cape Cod of Stanhope Road; 10 acres. Aquifer: Cape Cod SSA • North Quashnet Woods. Located on Boghouse Lens n/a Road, Mashpee; 27 acres. Rivers and Streams (miles) 1.28 • Childs River. This property consists of two parcels located on the river, south of Carriage Vernal Pools Certified (#) 3 Shop Road, Falmouth; 19 acres. Cranberries Potential (#) 0 were once farmed on portions of this property. Wetlands (acres) 35.62 The watershed properties are administered from the Lakes and Ponds (acres) 0.0 WBNERR headquarters as part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve. Other properties in the reserve include WBNERR (Section 3), South Cape Beach (Section 4), and Washburn Island (Section 5).

6-3 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

The Quashnet and Childs river valleys are predicted Table 6.2.3. State-listed species of Quashnet Woods to be impacted by flooding and storm surge. (Table and associated properties, as identified by 6.2.2) the NHESP.

Table 6.2.2. Potential impacts of flooding, hurricane c inundation, and sea level rise to Quashnet Speciesa, b Woods and associated properties. Type MESA Barrens buckmoth I SC Type of Impact Acres % Eastern box turtle R SC Flooding: a. Presented alphabetically, by common name. 100-year Storm 32.46 6.93 b. Fact sheets are available at: a 500-year Storm 41.80 8.93 http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural- Hurricane Inundation: heritage/species-information-and-conservation/mesa-list/list-of- rare-species-in-massachusetts.html. Category 1 Stormb 2.56 0.55 b c. Types of state-listed species include: I = Insect; and R = Reptile. Category 2 Storm 12.72 2.72 b d. Status of species listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Category 3 Storm 51.58 11.02 Species Act (MESA): E = Endangered, SC = Special Concern; Category 4 Stormb 68.07 14.54 and T = Threatened. Sea Level Rise 0.00 0.00 a. Cumulative value; includes 100-year storm impacts. Priority Habitat

b. Cumulative value; includes impacts of all lower category storms. Approximately half of Quashnet Woods and the Approximately 3,800 feet of the Quashnet River associated properties (52.02% ) are Priority Habitat. Valley is predicted to be impacted by a 100-year This includes the entire southern half and the storm. Much of the Childs River parcel will be powerline corridor to the north. Almost all of the impacted by a 100-year storm; nearly the entire Phinney and North Quashnet properties (greater than parcel will be affected by a 500-year storm. 97% each) are also Priority Habitat. None of the Childs River parcel has been so designated. Inundation models predict no impacts to Quashnet Woods State Reservation from Category 1 or 2 Vegetation storms. A Category 3 storm is predicted to inundate There have been no comprehensive surveys of the nearly the entire river valley within the park. vegetation. However, it is not predicted to impact the Martin Road parking lot or adjacent buildings. Invasive Species In contrast, a Category 1 hurricane is predicted to Five species of invasive or likely invasive plants impact portions of the Childs River parcel, with a have been incidentally observed. (Table 6.2.4) They Category 2 storm inundating almost the entire are located adjacent to the Martin Road parking lot. property. There is no infrastructure on the parcel to An unidentified honeysuckle is associated with the be impacted by these storms. former residence on Martin Road; it is potentially invasive. The projected one-foot rise in sea level will not affect any of the properties. However, the River restoration efforts in the 1970s involved the temperature of coldwater rivers, such as the introduction of a highly invasive plant, reed canary Quashnet, are highly vulnerable to climate change grass (Keay 2000). A 1984 article on the restoration (Manomet and DFW 2010). efforts described the shores “as covered by three- foot-high canary grass” (Berger 1984, in Keay Rare Species 2000). The current distribution of this plant within State-listed Species the park is unknown.

There are two known state-listed species. (Table 6.2.3) One candidate for federal listing, the New England Cottontail, also occurs in the park.

6-4 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.2.4. Known invasive and likely invasive plants huckleberry, lowbush blueberry, eastern teaberry, of Quashnet Woods and associated northern bayberry, and unidentified ferns in the properties. park’s one plot. Speciesa Statusb Wildlife Autumn olive I Multiflora rose I No formal surveys have been conducted. Spawning Norway maple I populations of sea-run brook trout are known from Oriental bittersweet I the Quashnet and Childs’ rivers; the latter was Reed canary grass I established using fish from the former. a. Presented alphabetically, by common name. b. Plants are classified as being either Invasive (I) or Likely 6.3. CULTURAL RESOURCES Invasive (L) according to MIPAG (2005). This section describes the known and potential Natural Communities cultural resource areas, including pre-Contact and post-Contact archaeological resources, and historic There have been no formal surveys of natural buildings, structures, and landscapes. An overview communities. Three community types are currently of significant events in the history of Quashnet known to occur, others are present but remain Woods is presented in Table 6.3.1. Known cultural unidentified. (Table 6.2.5) Forest cover types have resources are identified in table 6.3.2. been classified and mapped for this property and for all others in the Reserve. Archaeological Resources Table 6.2.5. Known natural communities of Quashnet Quashnet Woods State Reservation. No pre-Contact Woods and associated properties. sites are recorded. Archaeological surveys have been

c conducted on the northern and southern limits of the

d parcel, and zones of archaeological sensitivity were identified. These can be found in MHC Reports Community Typea #1430, 2033, and 2693. Because the parcel contains System State Rank Source Pitch Pine - Oak Forest T S5 1 the Quashnet River and drainage, it is highly Red Maple Swamp P S5 2 sensitive for pre-Contact sites. Shrub swamp P S5 2 Childs River. One pre-Contact site is recorded in the a. Classified according to Swain and Kearsley (2011). area; there is no information on this site included in

b. E = Estuarine, P = Palustrine, T = Terrestrial. the inventory. Three systematic surveys have been c. The NHESP ranks communities from most rare (S1) to the most common (S5). conducted in the Childs River area and are reported d. Information contained in this table was obtained from the in MHC Reports #503, 1622, and 2693. The area is following sources: highly sensitive for pre-Contact sites. 1. WBNERR (2014). 2. DEP Wetlands (1:12,000) data layer. Phinney Parcel. No pre-Contact sites are recorded in or near the property. The area is however, Forests moderately sensitive for pre-Contact sites. Collectively, Quashnet Woods and the watershed North Quashnet. No pre-Contact sites have been properties are largely forested (91.54%). However, recorded in this property. In 2001 and 2002 an the Childs River property is only partially forested intensive archeological survey was conducted of a (36.09%), while the remaining properties are almost 350 acre parcel that included the North Quashnet entirely forested (greater than 93% each). CFI data property. The results of these surveys are found in provide an incomplete picture of these properties’ MHC Report #2076 and 2168. The area is forests, identifying only pitch pine, scrub oak, black moderately sensitive for pre-Contact sites.

6-5 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.3.1. Significant events in the history of Quashnet Woods and associated properties. Year(s) Events 1956 Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Game, later the DFW, purchases 31 acres along the Quashnet River to protect salter brook trout fishery. 1987-1988 DFW purchases 4.8 acres on the eastern side of the river in 1987 and an additional 13.5 acres in 1988. These purchases were made to further protect the brook trout fishery. 1987 The Department of Environmental Management and DFW purchase 336 acres of land along the river and on adjacent uplands. DFW has primary management responsibility for the DFW-owned riverbanks and DEM has primary responsibility for the rest of the property. 1995 Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge established; most properties in the Waquoit Bay watershed fall within the refuge boundary. 1996 Loop trail constructed along both sides of the Quashnet River. 1998 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed between DEM and MassWildlife for the management of Quashnet Woods State Reservation; an updated MOU is signed in 2000. 2000 WBNERR boundary expanded to include lands upstream of Waquoit Bay. 2002 Childs River property acquired. 2004 Phinney property acquired. 2004 Conservation Restriction acquired on 7 acres of Mashpee municipal land. 2005 NStar property added to Quashnet Woods. 2007-2008 Approximately 13 acres added to Quashnet Woods State Reservation.

Historic Resources Historic Landscapes The Quashnet River Valley was part of the semi- Childs River Agricultural Landscape. The Waquoit autonomous Mashpee area that was set aside in the Herring River Company operated a fishery on the mid-seventeenth century by English colonists for use Childs River in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. by the native Wampanoag population. The river was They dammed the river and surrounding creeks as an abundant source of fish for both the Native early as 1872, and fish were diverted from American and colonist population, and in the 18th downstream flows by means of fish ladders. An century a number of mills were constructed to earthen dam and ladder north of the property harness the water power for processing locally boundary were constructed in 1908. grown grains. Mill dams significantly impacted the Two bogs located in the Childs River property serve fishing stocks, and when the river’s main dam was as tangible reminders of the region’s late 19th and removed in the 1890s, the river banks attracted early 20th century cranberry industry. Although cranberry growers. By the 1960s, the cranberry recent conservation efforts have sought to reverse industry had crashed due to environmental and many of the impacts associated with cranberry market factors. Conservation efforts over the farming, this landscape serves as an important subsequent decades lead to the restoration of the reminder of the historic significance of the cranberry river valley as an ecosystem, and in the process, on the local economy. The industry harnessed the removed many of the historic features including region’s rivers and streams, and often competed with dams and mill structures. The remaining cultural fisheries for water resources until overfishing and resources are crucial to the story of the river’s role in environmental conditions brought an end to both by the economic and cultural development of the the middle of the 20th century. The entire Childs region. River parcel is part of both the Waquoit Historic National Register District and the Waquoit Village inventoried area.

6-6 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.3.2. Cultural resources of Quashnet Woods and associated properties.

h d

f g

a b

Location and Resource Type Date Condition Integrity Use In Utilities MHC # Guidance Waquoit Village MHCA 1750-1900 - - - - FAL.A - Waquoit Historic District NRHD 1700-1950 - - - - FAL.AY - 46 Martin Road Residence BU 1925 3 M N E, H, S, W - 1 Garage BU 1925 3 H Y - - 1 Middle Quashnet Reach Concrete Bog Sluice #1 ( 4 x 18 feet) ST Early–mid 20th c. 5 M - - - 2, 3 Concrete Bog Sluice #2 (8 x 10 feet) ST Early–mid 20th c. 5 M - - - 2, 3 Concrete Bog Sluice #3 (10 x 29 feet) ST Early–mid 20th c. 5 M - - - 2, 3 Childs River Parcel Childs River Industrial Landscape LA c. 1900 - - - - - 2, 4 Waquoit Village Cranberry Bog and NRHD c.1900 - - - - FAL.949 4 Upland (West of Childs River) Waquoit Village Cranberry Bog and NRHD c.1900 - - - - FAL.950 4 Upland (East of Childs River) a. Resource types include the following: AR = Archaeological; BU = Building; LA = Landscape; MHCA – Massachusetts Historic Commission Area; NRHD = National Register Historic District; OB = Object; and ST = Structure. b. Date of construction provided, when known. c. Building system and equipment condition codes as used in the Massachusetts Capital Asset Management Information System (CAMIS): 1 = Excellent- easily restorable to like new condition; 2 = Good-routine maintenance required; 3 = Adequate-some corrective and preventative maintenance required; 4 = Fair-excessive corrective maintenance and repair required; 5 = Poor-renovation needed; and 6 = Fail. d. Integrity is a relative assessment of the condition of a resource’s retention of its historic character-defining features; H = High; L = Low; M = Medium; and U = Unknown. e. Use categories include: N = building is not in use; S = building is used on a seasonal basis; and Y = building is used year-round. f. The following codes are used to identify utilities associated with buildings: E = Electric, H = Heat; I = Internet; S = Septic system; T = Telephone; W = Water; and W(S) = Water is available on a seasonal basis. This information is included for all buildings. g. Massachusetts Historical Commission inventory number. h. The following guidance is offered for the ongoing maintenance of these cultural resources: 1. Refer to Historic Building Maintenance BMP (DCR n.d.i). 2. Refer to Historic Landscapes - Built Features BMP (DCR n.d.g). 3. Refer to Archaeological Features BMP (DCR n.d.k). 4. Refer to Vegetation in Historic Landscapes BMP (n.d.h).

Buildings There are two historic buildings located in this park. The circa 1920s Cape style Colonial Revival house and small single car garage located at 46 Martin Road. Both are used for storage. These buildings are adjacent to but not included in the National Register nomination, but are included in the boundary as presented in the MACRIS online map (http://maps.mhc-macris.net/). For the purposes of this RMP the property will not be considered to be part of the National Register District, however projects that impact the appearance of the property must still be submitted to the Office of Cultural

Resources for review. This house at 46 Martin Road, Falmouth is one of two DCR-owned buildings in Quashnet Woods. (See Appendix G for photo information.)

6-7 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Structures Boundaries of the Phinney parcel are indistinct from adjacent undeveloped land. Its boundaries are Quashnet River Valley Cranberry Bog Sluices. unmarked. Three diversion sluices are located along the section of the Middle Quashnet Reach within Quashnet The North Quashnet parcel’s boundaries are Woods (Louis Berger Group, Inc. 2010). The sluices indistinct from adjacent municipal and private were built to divert river water into cranberry bogs conservation lands and a residential neighborhood. established during the growth of the industry in the Its boundaries have been marked. th first half of the 20 century. The sluices were built The Child’s River parcel is indistinct from adjacent between 1920 and 1960. Sluice #1 is constructed of wetlands to the west and residential lots to the east. cast concrete side walls set in an earthen dam and Its boundaries are marked. Despite this, there is includes a secondary sluice for high flows. Sluice #2 possible encroachment along Parsons Lane. features concrete side walls braced by a series of log timbers. Sluice #3 is set in an earthen embankment Buildings and Structures and has a wide set channel framed by high formed There are no non-historic buildings or structures on concrete walls. Further research is required to Quashnet Woods State Reservation. A U.S. determine the age and significance of these features, Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauging station which are all in fair to poor condition. shed is located on the Quashnet River WMA, Two additional historic resources, a box culvert adjacent to the parking lot for Quashnet Woods. under Martin Road and a former sawmill site are located in the Quashnet River WMA, adjacent to the Roads Quashnet Woods parking lot. There are three major forest roads in Quashnet Objects Woods; all run north-south. There is one road west of the river and two to the east; an earthen No objects were identified in this park. embankment and concrete sluiceway connects the roads. The easternmost forest road, Whiting Road, ECREATION ESOURCES 6.4. R R approximates the reservation’s boundary. Multiple The following recreational activities are known to dirt roads run through the North Quashnet property. occur at Quashnet Woods. The Phinney and Childs River properties have no roads. Information on these roads is summarized in  Fishing, fin fish (catch and release only) Table 6.5.1.  Geocaching (2 caches as of March 2015) Table 6.5.1. Condition and length of roads in  Hiking/walking Quashnet Woods and associated a  Hunting properties.  Nature study Paved Unpaved Road Condition (Miles) (Miles) 6.5. INFRASTRUCTURE Good 0.00 0.00 Fair 0.00 0.00 There is little non-historic infrastructure. Poor 0.00 0.00 Property Boundary Total 0.00 0.00 a. Based on field assessment; all distances calculated using GIS. Much of Quashnet Woods’ boundary is physically indistinct from adjacent conservation lands and open Parking space, and from abutting residential development. There is one parking lot, located on Martin Road in The exception to this is the eastern boundary, which Falmouth. The capacity of this lot is identified in is contiguous with Route 28 for approximately 3,500 Table 6.5.2. This lot is on the Quashnet River feet, and then with Whitings Road for approximately WMA, and not on Quashnet Woods State 3,800 more feet. Its boundaries are unmarked. Reservation.

6-8 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.5.2. Number of public parking spaces, by Iron Ranger location and type, at Quashnet Woods and associated properties. There is no iron ranger. Location HP Other Total Memorials and Markers Martin Road parking lot 0 6 6 a (trailhead) There are no known memorials or markers. a. Number of spaces is based on the number of potential 9-foot-wide spaces. 6.6. INTERPRETATION Trails There are no ongoing interpretive programs. WBNERR personnel periodically offer “A river runs Only Quashnet Woods has a formal trail system; it through it,” a program on the Reserve’s natural and consists of forest roads that predate establishment of cultural histories. the park, as well as trails specifically created for visitor access. The latter run north-south, on both The kiosk displays the following interpretive panels: sides of the river, creating a loop that originates from  Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge: Working the Martin Road parking lot. Smaller loops are Together to Protect Land and Water incorporated into the trail system to the west of the  River as Habitat: A Legacy of Neglect Inspires river. The condition of these trails is identified in Restoration Table 6.5.4.  Quashnet River: A Natural Resource Shapes the Table 6.5.3. Condition and length of official trails at History of a Community Quashnet Woods and associated properties. There are no other interpretive displays. Trail Condition Length (Miles) 6.7. MANAGEMENT RESOURCES Good 3.29 Fair 2.42 Staffing Poor 0.70 Total 6.41 DCR Personnel

Kiosks and Signs Quashnet Woods is unstaffed. Staff members from Waquoit Bay provide labor as needed and available. A three-panel kiosk, erected by the DCR, is located MassWildlife Personnel adjacent to the Martin Road parking lot within the Quashnet River WMA. Quashnet Woods is unstaffed. MassWildlife employees from the Southeast Regional Office in Bournedale provide labor as needed and available. Partnerships and Volunteers The Waquoit Bay Reserve Foundation was established to support the Reserve through fundraising and volunteerism. Their activities cover all four parks within the Reserve, including Quashnet Woods State Reservation and the watershed lands. (See Section 3.7 for additional information on the WBRF.) The U.S. Geological Survey monitors stream flow from an equipment shed near the Martin Road parking area; these data are made available to the Kiosk at Martin Road parking area. (See Appendix G for photo information.) general public. The Cape Cod Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been working to restore brook trout populations and

6-9 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

habitat in the Quashnet River since the 1970s. They Table 6.8.1. Key legal agreements for Quashnet Woods continue to hold monthly volunteer events. For more and associated properties.

information, see the chapter’s web page at http://www.capecodtu.org/.

a Public Safety b

Party and Subject of Agreement Type Expiration Date The Falmouth and Mashpee Fire and Police Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and A None departments provide fire response, emergency Wildlife services, and law enforcement. Expansion of WBNERR boundaries to Funding include the Quashnet River property. Update of July 1988 MOU. Conservation Trust Fund National Oceanic and Atmospheric U None There are no funds in the Conservation Trust Fund Administration dedicated to Quashnet Woods State Reservation. State and federal roles in management of WBNERR. Retained Revenue U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al. U 1998 There are no retained revenues. MOU concerning cooperation and coordination regarding Mashpee National Other Revenues Wildlife Refuge. There are no other revenues. Waquoit Bay Reserve Foundation A 2018 Support for mission of WBNERR. 6.8. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES a. Agreement types include: A=Memorandum of Agreement; and U=Memorandum of Understanding. Management of DCR properties is guided by a b. Year that agreement expires. Permanent agreements are indicated variety of regulations, policies, BMPs, legal by an expiration date of “None.” agreements, and institutional knowledge. Legal agreements unique to Quashnet Woods are presented The year 2000 agreement between the DEM and in Table 6.8.1. DFW defines management responsibilities. The DFW has primary responsibility for the management of “DFW owned riverbanks.” The DCR, acting through WBNERR, “has primary responsibility for rest of the property.” Functionally, both agencies coordinate their efforts and work cooperatively to manage the property and its resources. Key management and guidance documents are presented in Table 6.8.2.

6-10 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.8.2. Key management and guidance frequency with which they occur, are identified in documents for Quashnet Woods and Table 6.8.3. associated properties. Table 6.8.3. Annual cycle of management activities at Author and Document Year Quashnet Woods and associated Louis Berger Group, Inc. 2010 properties.

Waquoit Bay stream restoration master plan: a

a Falmouth and Mashpee, Massachusetts. a

a Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research 2012 Reserve Activity Spring Summer Fall Winter Emergency operations plan for the Waquoit Litter removal - Beaches, E7 E7 E7 E7 Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. parking lots, walkways Litter removal - Trails AN AN AN AN Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research 2013 Reserve Mowing and trimming E7/AN E7/AN E7/AN E7/AN Hurricane preparedness and response plan for Mulching and fertilizing N/A N/A N/A N/A the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Pruning - Trees and N/A A1 N/A N/A Reserve. shrubs Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research a. Frequency codes are: A1 = Once annually; AN = As needed; D = 2014 Daily, # times; E = Every # days; N/A = Not applicable. Reserve Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; Management Plan; 2013-2017. Natural Resources Water Resources The 2014 Management Plan (WBNERR 2014) covers all properties in the Reserve, and addresses Both the towns of Falmouth and Mashpee have Reserve research, education programs, and staffing adopted nitrogen control bylaws. in detail. It does so from the perspective of the Rare Species National Estuarine Research Reserve System. This plan is updated every five years, per NOAA The DFW and the DCR are working together to requirements. maintain, enhance, and create early successional habitat for the New England Cottontail. A Cutting Advisory Committees plan has been approved for portions of Quashnet Woods in Mashpee (Cutting Plan No. 172-6927-14; The following advisory committee provides input on NHESP Tracking No. 13-32276a and 13-32276b). matters of policy and operations of the Reserve, including Quashnet Woods State Reservation: This is part of a broader effort to restore cottontail habitat throughout the Mashpee National Wildlife  Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Refuge. Reserve Advisory Committee Invasive Species Additional information on this committee maybe found in WBNERR (2014). There is no systematic invasive species monitoring or management at this park. Research Activities Vegetation There is a formal registration procedure for research activities in Waquoit Bay National Estuarine The lawn at the 46 Martin Road residence is mowed Research Reserve. See Section 3.8 for additional weekly, or more often, during the spring and information. summer. It is cut on an as needed basis in the fall. This lawn is not fertilized. Annual Maintenance Cultural Resources Ongoing management practices typically follow a regular schedule. Common activities, and the desired The Waquoit Bay Stream Restoration Master Plan has identified the three historic sluices on the Quashnet River as possible candidates for removal

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as part of ongoing fisheries restoration efforts (Louis high-priority, and should be addressed as soon as Berger Group, Inc. 2010). Review by cultural resources become available. resource specialists is recommended for all proposed dam and sluice removals (Louis Berger Group, Inc. Applied Land Stewardship Zoning 2010). (Figure 6.2) Recreation Resources The following Land Stewardship Zoning is recommended for Quashnet Woods State Fishing in the Quashnet River is catch and release Reservation. only and limited to the use of artificial lures. Zone 1 Infrastructure  No portion of Quashnet Woods State There are no infrastructure-related management Reservation has been designated Zone 1. practices unique to this property. Zone 2 Buildings  All portions of Quashnet Woods State The building, garage, and grounds at 46 Martin Reservation, with the exception of a residential Road are visited weekly to check for vandalism. lot at 46 Martin Road, Falmouth. (See Zone 3, Roads below.)  North Quashnet Woods. There is no regular road maintenance; potholes are  Phinney property. filled as needed.  Childs River property. Parking Areas Zone 3 The parking lot is inspected weekly. Illegally dumped materials are removed from the parking lot  46 Martin Road (entire parcel). as encountered. Significant Feature Overlay Trails There are no Significant Feature Overlays. Trails are maintained by volunteers and the Management Recommendations Reserve’s Stewardship Coordinator. Because portions of the trails are located within Priority Four priority management recommendations were Habitat, NHESP review is required before any work developed for Quashnet Woods State Reservation may be performed in these areas. and the associated watershed lands. (Table 6.9.1) For a recommendation to be considered priority it must Kiosks and Signs address one or more of the following criteria: The interpretive panels on the kiosk at the Martin  Regulatory compliance or compliance with legal Road parking lot are static displays; they do not need agreements. regular updating.  Threats to the health and safety of park visitors 6.9. RECOMMENDATIONS and employees.  The imminent loss of a natural, cultural, or Introduction recreation resource. This section provides recommendations for the near- Additional maintenance and management needs and long-term management of Quashnet Woods observed during the preparation of this RMP, but not State Reservation and associated watershed lands. meeting one or more of the above criteria, are not Applied Land Stewardship Zoning recommendations included in this plan. provide general guidance for managing these properties. Future activities and projects should be The following recommendations are of equal checked against the zoning map (Figure 6.2) for priority. consistency. Management recommendations are all

6-12 Quashnet Woods State Reservation

Table 6.9.1. Priority recommendations for Quashnet Woods and associated properties.

Recommendation Implementationa Investigate potential encroachment along Parsons Lane and resolve with abutters, if warranted. L, R Continue efforts to restore New England Cottontail habitat. F, R, V Coordinate activities with the DCR Archaeologist when developing plans to remove sluiceways, P, R dams, mill structures, or other similar archaeological resources. Submit proposed trail maintenance and construction activities to the NHESP for review under MESA. P, R, V a. The following codes identify the party or parties responsible for implementing the recommendations: B = Bureau of Ranger Services; C = Contractor; E = Division of Engineering; F = Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry; L = Legal Services; O = Other; P = Bureau of Planning, Design & Resource Protection; R = Regional and district staff; U = Universal Access Program; V = Volunteer or partner; and X = Office of External Affairs and Partnerships.

6-13 Childs River PropertyCarriage Jobs Fishing Shop Road